diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 1364882..df4bbad 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,14 @@
 ---
 
+######################
+# Playbook variables #
+######################
+# Whether to use Debian/Ubuntu backports repository when installing Redis
+redis_debian_backports: False
+
+###################
+# Redis variables #
+###################
 redis_bind_address: "0.0.0.0"
 redis_port: 6379
 redis_syslog_enabled: "yes"
diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index 61dc503..a11d551 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -22,7 +22,17 @@
   apt: name={{ item }} state=present update_cache=yes
   with_items: redis_ubuntu_pkg
   environment: env
-  when: ansible_os_family == "Debian"
+  when: ansible_os_family == "Debian" and not redis_debian_backports
+
+- name: Install the Redis packages
+  apt:
+    name: "{{ item }}"
+    state: present
+    update_cache: yes
+    default_release: "{{ ansible_distribution_release }}-backports"
+  with_items: redis_ubuntu_pkg
+  environment: env
+  when: ansible_os_family == "Debian" and redis_debian_backports
 
 - name: Copy the redis configuration file 
   template: src=redis.conf.j2 dest={{ redis_conf_dest }}